I have a couple of valves stuck open in my 57 GH. I took off the valve cover and removed the rocker arm assembly. We tapped on one of the valves, and it immediately snapped shut. Great, I thought. We tapped on the second one, but it wouldnt budge. I sprayed it a few times with penetrating oil, and we kept trying to work it loose, but it wouldnt budge, so we just kept repeating the procedure. My friend, who was helping me, feared the worst, and said that it may be bent. Then he said "Check to see if the pushrod is bent". So I pulled out the pushrod, and heard a clunking sound. The lifter had travelled up with the pushrod, had come up out of the pocket, and had fallen into the head! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!

We tried to fish it around with a small magnet, and although we were able to get ahold of it, there was just no way we could maneuver it back into the pocket.

Then, totally PO'ed and frusterated, and as I sat there staring at it, the other valve snapped shut!

So, if I hadnt touched the pushrod, I'd be all ready to go.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I cant stop kicking myself!

Which brings me to my question. I really dont want to tear off the head right now. If I remove the intake manifold and valley pan, will I be able to get to the lifter to put it back in place?

tutone63

02-04-2009, 09:08 AM

Yikes, can't offer any help, as I haven't gone that deep into my own engine yet, but I can tell you that I have had a lot of experiences like that! You try to do something, then you dig yourself into a hole doing something that wasn't even necissary, the problem gets fixed, but the first thing you did to try to fix the problem is still requiring attention. I just think it is the plight of working with old cars. (or old anything for that matter...houses, appliances) Good luck! And my sympathies!

:) What Claude said. It's not at all difficult in the big scheme of things. No need for a head to come off. :DBP

rusty nut garage

02-04-2009, 10:22 AM

easy man don't panick. remove the intake relocate the tappet. You'll be good to go. no need to drain coolant or remove the distributor such as in lesser V-8s

quote:Originally posted by jeryst

I have a couple of valves stuck open in my 57 GH. I took off the valve cover and removed the rocker arm assembly. We tapped on one of the valves, and it immediately snapped shut. Great, I thought. We tapped on the second one, but it wouldnt budge. I sprayed it a few times with penetrating oil, and we kept trying to work it loose, but it wouldnt budge, so we just kept repeating the procedure. My friend, who was helping me, feared the worst, and said that it may be bent. Then he said "Check to see if the pushrod is bent". So I pulled out the pushrod, and heard a clunking sound. The lifter had travelled up with the pushrod, had come up out of the pocket, and had fallen into the head! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!

We tried to fish it around with a small magnet, and although we were able to get ahold of it, there was just no way we could maneuver it back into the pocket.

Then, totally PO'ed and frusterated, and as I sat there staring at it, the other valve snapped shut!

So, if I hadnt touched the pushrod, I'd be all ready to go.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I cant stop kicking myself!

Which brings me to my question. I really dont want to tear off the head right now. If I remove the intake manifold and valley pan, will I be able to get to the lifter to put it back in place?

The only people I know of that dont have these types of problems
are the ones that dont do anything.

Since your not driving this car I bet you have the luxury of
a little time time to figure a way out of this problem.

You mentioned in your post that the lifter will not go back
into the pocket. Does this mean that the lifter is up in the
lifter valley and will not drop back into the lifter bore.

If you are lined up with the lifter bore and the lifter just
will not drop back in you may be able to shoot some lube like
10w motor oil around the lifter where it is using a piece of
piece of poly tube to guide the oil around it through the push
rod hole. After lubing the lifter take a wood dowel about the
diameter of the push rod and round the end on a sander so that
it looks like the end of a push rod and see if you can push the
lifter back down in the lifter bore.

If your problem is a little different than I understood then try
to write another post so we can understand you problem better

This problem can be fixed with some time,patience and effort.

When it begins to frustrate you, walk away for a day or two
and come back to it with new ideas that you generate in that
day or two. Good luck and keep us informed.

DDD

PackardV8

02-04-2009, 11:14 AM

If the lifter came out that easily, it will go back without tearing the top of the engine apart - maybe. A lot depends upon your patience, your mechanical dexterity and which lifter is involved. The front four cylinders are much easier to see down the hole than the rear four.

The tube and dowel suggestion is one method to try. Another is two common mechanic's tools. The first is a strong magnet-on-a-stick and the second is a flexible grapple. These, plus a helper with a good flashlight should get you back in business.

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8

53k

02-04-2009, 11:20 AM

Hey. If it makes you feel any better, I have done that (more than once[V]). I was never able to guide one back in the hole, but removing the intake manifold and valley cover isn't a big deal.

Jerry those valve stems all need a good soaking with Marvel Mystery (Penetrating) Oil. While you have at least one valve cover off, I would oil all 16, to make sure there are no more stuck valve problems at start-up. [^]

The Lifter Cover Gaskets and Intake Manifold Gaskets are on their way, so if you have no luck fishing the lifter back in, at least you have an alternative! [^]

I have a couple of valves stuck open in my 57 GH. I took off the valve cover and removed the rocker arm assembly. We tapped on one of the valves, and it immediately snapped shut. Great, I thought. We tapped on the second one, but it wouldnt budge. I sprayed it a few times with penetrating oil, and we kept trying to work it loose, but it wouldnt budge, so we just kept repeating the procedure. My friend, who was helping me, feared the worst, and said that it may be bent. Then he said "Check to see if the pushrod is bent". So I pulled out the pushrod, and heard a clunking sound. The lifter had travelled up with the pushrod, had come up out of the pocket, and had fallen into the head! STUPID! STUPID! STUPID!

We tried to fish it around with a small magnet, and although we were able to get ahold of it, there was just no way we could maneuver it back into the pocket.

Then, totally PO'ed and frusterated, and as I sat there staring at it, the other valve snapped shut!

So, if I hadnt touched the pushrod, I'd be all ready to go.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I cant stop kicking myself!

Which brings me to my question. I really dont want to tear off the head right now. If I remove the intake manifold and valley pan, will I be able to get to the lifter to put it back in place?

That's not stupid. It's a required right of passage to Studebaker V8's.

The first time I dropped a lifter Palma and Harbit were present.
Spell that humbled.
Neither one of them hit me.
The teachers taught me to shake and spin the pushrods when lifting them to make them turn loose of the lifter.
I learned sumpin that I haven't forgotten.

Now that I think about your episode,let's blame it on your friend.
It might not have happened if he hadn't been helping.

I fished around for the lifter for 2 or 3 hours today. No luck at all. My friend tried for a couple of hours too. No luck either.

Then, another friend of mine came in, and asked what we were doing. We told him what was going on. He asked for the magnet and flashlight, and started to fish around with it. We laughed and walked away over to the other side of the garage. Five minutes later, he came over and told us it was back in. We didnt believe him, but went over to humor him. To our surprise, it was back in place.

He just grinned and said "You owe me one!"

Totally amazing!

sals54

02-04-2009, 08:15 PM

jeryst, Now thats the kinda friend to keep around. Take him and his wife out to a nice dinner.